Passaic County CASA working to make holidays brighter for kids in foster care

November 17, 2016 at 10:24 AM

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Children in foster care often mark the holidays with feelings of loneliness and sadness rather than celebrations. Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) works to ensure that every child is able to acknowledge the holiday season in an age and developmentally appropriate way through the gifts they personally request.

Children and youth in foster care are often emotionally or developmentally delayed due to the trauma they have endured prior to entering foster care and while in the system. A sixteen-year-old girl who has survived years of abuse may want her own comfortable clothes more than an mp3 player. The seven-year-old girl, who has been taking care of herself and siblings because of Mom’s substance abuse, may want a locking journal more than a doll or game. In order to ensure that every child receives a gift he/she wants or needs, CASA asks donors to support one of the options below.

A. Commit to providing children with the gift they have personally requested.

We will send you the name, age and gift wishes of each child so you can get started shopping!

Fill out our the Holiday Gift Donor Form at www.passaiccountycasa.org/holidays/ to get started.If you plan to purchase any of your gifts on Amazon, please shop through CASA's Amazon Smile account and a percentage of eligible purchases will be donated back to CASA!

B. Commit to donating gift cards.

Gift cards are the most popular with and requested by our children every year. There is no minimum to the number of gift cards you can donate and stores can be anything located in the Bergen/Passaic area or online. Suggestions are listed on our website. Fill out our Holiday Gift Donor Form below to let us know how many you plan to give, or just send them to our offices at 415 Hamburg Tpk, B-1, Wayne, NJ 07470 (along with your contact information so we can thank you). Please write amounts on all gift cards.

C. Make a cash donation to support the gift drive.

Fill out the form on this page or mail a donation to the address below. Please note "Holiday Toy Drive" in the additional information section.

Passaic County CASA415 Hamburg Tpk, B-1DWayne, NJ 07470

Find out more about Passaic County CASA at http://www.passaiccountycasa.org/.

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